Fully rotatable turret for delivering plurality of fire extinguishing agents

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses a turret for fire fighting equipment capable of delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents onto a fire, characterized by having a plurality of nozzle means connected respectively with a plurality of separate conduit means; a single support means adapted for effecting any segment of rotation, including 360* and more of rotation for the turret; and a plurality of concentric mounting and sealing means within the single support means. The concentric mounting and sealing means are each connected with respective ones of said conduit means to carry the respective fire extinguishing agents without admixing thereof and without entanglement of the respective conduit means. Also disclosed are specific elements; such as, the stationary external jacket serving as the single support means; the rotatable head; the respective conduit means; the swivel joints serving as the mounting and sealing means; the twin nozzles; and the disengageable locking means for effecting unitary operation of the twin nozzles, or allowing them to be operated separately.

ited States Patent [72] Inventor George A. Garrett Fort Worth, Tex. [21] Appl. No. 836,697 [22] Filed June 26, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Fire Control Engineering Company Fort Worth, Tex.

[54] FULLY ROTATABLE TURRET FOR DELIVERING PLURALITY OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 239/587, 239/549, 285/134 [51] Int. Cl B05b 15/08 [50] Field ofSearch 239/587, 423, 214.19, 214.15, 225, 243, 245, 416.4, 416.5, 417, 418, 548, 549, 558; 285/134, 136, 190; 287/lnquired [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,788,500 l/l931 Uhri 285/134 2,986,344 5/19 Knight 239/587 3,372,715 3/1968 Ashton 3,448,809 6/1969 Lambertetal.

285/l34x 239/549x ABSTRACT: This specification discloses a turret for fire fighting equipment capable of delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents onto a fire, characterized by having a plurality of nozzle means connected respectively with a plurality of separate conduit means; a single support means adapted for effecting any segment of rotation, including 360 and more of rotation for the turret; and a plurality of concentric mounting and sealing means within the single support means. The concentric mounting and sealing means are each connected with respective ones of said conduit means to carry the respective fire extinguishing agents without admixing thereof and without entanglement of the respective conduit means. Also disclosed are specific elements; such as, the stationary external jacket serving as the single support means; the rotatable head; the respective conduit means; the swivel joints serving as the mounting and sealing means; the twin nozzles; and the disengageable locking means for effecting unitary operation of the twin nozzles, or allowing them to be operated separately.

PATENTED MR 2 WI SHEET 1 [1F 2 Pmnmnm 219m 3567.136

SHEET 2 [1F 2 WG QW ATTORNEYS FULLY ROTATABLE TURRET FOR DELIVERING PILIJRAILI'IY OF FIRE EXTINGUISIIING AGENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to turrets and, more particularly, to fire fighting turrets capable of delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents onto a fire.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the prior art to employ turrets for delivering fire extinguishing agents onto fires. Manually operated or remotely operated turrets have been employed. Moreover, turrets having a plurality of individual conduits delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents to a plurality of nozzles have been employed." In the latter type turrets, restricted azimuthal orientation results because the separate conduits interfere with full rotational swivel of the turret. Accordingly, a vehicle carrying the latter type turrets must be continuously maneuvered in order to obtain access to fire at all times, yet not be trapped by fire getting beyond the the azimuthal orientation capacity of its nozzles. Such disadvantages create serious problems for the operators, both of the vehicle and of the nozzles. Operation of such turrets by a single operator further inhibits the already limited flexibility. On the other hand, in attempting to obtain flexibility of such turrets having individual nozzles and individual conduits for the separate fire extinguishing agents, an operator of one nozzle delivering one agent runs the risk of injuring another operator operating the other nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of a fire fighting vehicle carrying the fire fighting turret and turret assembly of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section showing the fire fighting turret ofthis invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the turret assembly of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the turret assembly of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) It is a primary object of this invention to provide a single turret capable of delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents, yet rotatable through any segment of rotation, including a full 360 of rotation without entangling the conduits supplying the fire extinguishing agents thereto, and without admixture of the fire extinguishing agents before being released from nozzles of the turret assembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a turret assembly in which the nozzles delivering the individual fire extinguishing agents can be locked together to afford unitary azimuthal and elevational orientation by a single operator, yet separable to effect individual action of a given nozzle delivering a given fire extinguishing agent at any azimuth independently from the azimuthal orientation of the main turret head.

Referring to FIG. ii a fire fighting vehicle; such as, fire truck 11; has mounted thereon a fire fighting turret assembly 13, for delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents onto a fire, which has a plurality of nozzle means 15. and 17 for delivering the respective fire extinguishing agents. Nozzle means 15 and 17 are connected respectively with conduit means I9 leading into and within turret 21, by way of respective nozzle outlets 23. The conduit means are connected within a single support means with concentric mounting and sealing means so as to enable the turret assembly to be rotated through a full 360 without entangling of the conduit means, yet preserve the identity and characteristics of the respective fire extinguishing agents and prevent admixing thereof. The respective conduit means are connected with respective sourcesof the fire extinguishing agents as by lines and 27 The plurality of fire extinguishing agents may be, for example, a dry chemical powder and an aqueous agent such as water or aqueous solutions of foam forming additive. Such fire extinguishing agents are well known and need not be described herein. The dry chemical powder may be stored in an invertible spherical container 29 until ready foruse. When ready for use container 29 is inverted and simultaneously high pressure gas; such as, nitrogen from a rack of nitrogen bottles 31; is admitted thereto for substantially instantaneous fluidizaon of the fire fighting dry chemical powder and delivery through line 25 and the respective conduit means to its respective nozzle means. One such excellent system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,816 and reference is made thereto for detailed description of construction and operation. Similarly, the aqueous agent may be stored in a container; such as, high pressure spherical container 33. High pressure gas such as that from another rack of nitrogen bottles 31 may be admitted to displace the aqueous fire extinguishing agent through line 27 and the respective conduit means to its respective nozzle means. Alternatively, a pump means can be employed for delivering the aqueous fire extinguishing agent at high pressure to its respective nozzle means. Suitable and respective valve means; such as, control valves 35; on the respective lines are opened and closed by appropriate gas powered pistoncylinder arrangements, operating in response to respective solenoid operated gas control valves. in the high pressure gas conduits. The gas control valves are' connected with andare responsive to control buttons 37 on the respective handles 39 attached to the respective nozzle means. The valve means, control buttons and proper method of interconnection is known in the art and need not be detailed herein. Depression of a control button 37 on handle 39 effects the opening of the respective valve means necessary to efie'ct delivery of the respective fire extinguishing agent to the associated nozzle means. 1

A platform 41 is provided to facilitate an operator's manipulating the respective nozzle means via the respective handles.

FIG. 2 illustrates by a side cross-sectional view turret21 employed in turret assembly 13. A stationary external jacket 45 is provided for conveying a first fire extinguishing agent and serves as part of a single support means for the turret assembly. A head 47 is rotatably and sealingly mounted on external jacket 45 for further conveying the first fire extinguishing agent and serves as part of the single support means. A first nozzle outlet 49 is fixed to head 47, penetrating therethrough for delivering the first fire extinguishing agent to a nozzle means. First nozzle outlet 49 may be a conventional pipe fitting welded to'head 47 in conjunction with an aperture through head 47.

Internal conduit means 51 is rotatably and sealingly mounted within external jacket 45 and is connected with a second nozzle outlet 53 for conveying a second fire extinguishing agent to a second nozzle means. Second nozzle outlet 53 sealingly and fixedly penetrates through the wall of head 47. Such sealing and fixed penetration is readily effected by welding suitable pipe fittings; such as, a nipple or swage and an ell; through an aperture in the wall of head 47 and onto internal conduit 51. Internal conduit 51 must be rotatable with head 47. Accordingly, it is coupled to delivery conduit; such as, line 25; by a swivel fiuid coupling 55. Swivel fluid coupling 55 is rotatably and sealingly connected with the other end of internal conduit means SI and with conduit; such as, line 25; which is connected with a source for a second fire extinguishing agent.

External jacket 45 is connected with a second conduit connected with a source of the first fire extinguishing agent by way of a fluid inlet coupling 57 which sealingly penetrates the wall of external jacket 45. The sealing penetration may be effected by welding of a pipe fitting; such as, a flange base or a nipple; onto the wall of external jacket 45 around an aperture through the wall of jacket 45.

Head 47 is rotatably and sealingly mounted on external jacket 45 at one end thereof by swivel joint 59 having bearing means 61 and sealing means 63. Specifically, bearing means 61 is provided by annularly protruding shoulder 65 around the exterior of the one end of external jacket 45, and suitable thrust bearings 67 emplaced adjacent and on both sides of shoulder 65. The thrust bearings may be roller bearings in appropriate races or they may be ball bearings in appropriate races. Swivel ring 69 with its bottom shoulder 71 is slipped over the bearings. Flare ring 73 is fixed annularly about swivel ring 69 to form an annular base for head 47 for engaging with braking means and inhibiting rotation of the turret assembly. With this construction thrust bearings 67 withstand the thrust force due to the weight of the assembly on head 47, as well as the thrust force due to pressure exerted when a fire extinguishing agent is being flowed therethrough for delivery onto the fire.

To complete the assembly and form sealing means 63, cylindrical sealing skirt 75 of head 47 is slipped over cylindrical seating means 77 of jacket 45 after a seal 79 has been emplaced therebetween. Seal 79 may be any of the usual seals employed; such as, O-rings or V-lock rings of elastomeric materials like Neoprene. As illustrated, seal 79 is emplaced within sealing skirt 75 in an annular groove before skirt 75 is emplaced adjacent upper bearing 67 and within swivel ring 69. Swivel ring 69 is connected with skirt 75, as by bolts 81, to form unitary outer portion of swivel joint 59. Sealing means 63, thus formed, prevents leakage of the first fire extinguishing agent therepast. Such a first fire extinguishing agent in the annular conduit means within jacket 45 and around internal conduit 51 may suitably comprise water or other aqueous fire extinguishing agents.

Internal conduit means 51 is also rotatably and sealingly mounted within the external jacket at the other end thereof by a second swivel ljoint 83 haVing a bearing means and a sealing means of substantially the same structural configuration as swivel joint 59. The inner wall 85 of swivel joint 83 is connected to a terminal sealing means 87 which constrains the first fire extinguishing agent to flow upwardly within jacket 45 and out first nozzle outlet 49. Terminal sealing means 87 contains an annular recess 89 serving as a seating means for a sealing means; such as, O-ring 91. O-ring 91 also seals against a milled cylindrical portion 93 of internal conduit means 51 to prevent admixing of first and second fire extinguishing agents therepast. Slot 95 engages pin 97 to effect unitary rotation of internal conduit means 51 and terminal sealing means 87 and allow for expansion and contraction of internal conduit means 51 in normal use and when exposed to the cold, drychemical powder carried in the expanding high pressure gas stream being flowed to a fire in operation of the fire fighting turret assembly.

By use of the respective swivel joints serving as concentric mounting and sealing means, each being operatively connected with one of the conduit means so as to preserve the identity and characteristics of the respective fire extinguishing agents and prevent intertwining of the conduit means, the turret assembly can be rotated through any plurality of complete circles in either direction. Swivel fluid coupling 55 allows such rotation independently of line 25. Swivel fluid coupling 55 may be any of the well-known swivel fluid couplings and need not be as elaborate as the swiveljoints like swivel joint 59.

A brake means 99 is provided for preserving azimuthal orientation of the turret assembly, specifically of head 47. Brake means 99 comprises a member 101 for engaging the base of head 47. Flare ring 73 of the base of head 47 may have apertures formed therein into which member 101 is movably engaged. Guide ring 103 and spring 105 urge member 101 toward ring 73. Perpendicularly extending portion 107 of member 101 can be rotated to disengage member 101. To maintain member 101 is a disengaged position, an arcuate indentation 109 is provided in housing 111. Attachment means such as bracket 112 and associated bolts 113 affixes the brake means to jacket 45. Bracket 112 may be readily fixed to jacket 45 by welding. Brake means 99 is particularly useful in preventing random rotation of the turret assembly when not in use, and may be disengaged when rapid and ready rotation of the turret assembly is desirable.

FIG. 3 illustrates by side view the turret assembly wherein the nozzle means and associated conduit elements are em placed atop head 47 and connected with the respective nozzle outlets 49 and 53. Therein each of the first and second nozzle outlets have a first ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting azimuthal orientation independently of head 47 and a second ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting elevational orientation, and a nozzle means connected therewith for effecting delivery of respective ones of the fire extinguishing agents; the first ell means, the second ell means, and the nozzle means being connected in series. Specifically, to each of the nozzle outlets there is welded an ell 114. As illustrated ell 114 is oriented in a substantially vertical plane when fire truck 11 is on a substantially horizontal surface. A second ell 115 is serially connected with ell 114 by swivel coupling 117. Such swivel couplings for joining pipe are well known, as was swivel fluid coupling 55, and need not be described in detail herein. Broadly, such swivel couplings rotatably and sealingly embrace complementary ends of the pipe sections they join allowing free rotation about the concentric axis of the swivel coupling and the ends of the pipe sections. Expressed otherwise, the swivel coupling 117 allows rotation in the substantially horizontal plane by ell 115 and extensions therefrom for effecting azimuthal orientation. A third ell 119, FIGS. 3 and 4, is connected to ell 115 by second swivel coupling 121. Swivel coupling 121 allows rotation about its concentric axis, or in the vertical plane for effecting elevational orientation. Second swivel coupling 121 has a retaining means 123 for retaining a given elevational orientation of the respective nozzle means connected with ells 119.

The nozzle means may differ significantly in construction. For example, nozzle 125, employed with the aqueous fire extinguishing agents; such as, Light Water or mixtures or solutions of water and foam inducing agents; may have a screen shaper 127 for obtaining wide angle dispersion of foam delivered onto a fire or it may have a shaper tube 129 for delivering a concentrated stream of foam. On the other hand, dry chemical nozzle means 131 may comprise a generally cylindrical tube having stacked tips 133 thereon.

Each of the nozzle means has fittingly connected with it a handle means 135. Handle means 135 facilitates obtaining azimuthal and elevational orientation of the nozzle means to effect deposition of the fire extinguishing agent at exactly the desired point. Locking means 137 is enga'geable with each of the handle means 135 for locking the plurality of handle means together to effect unitary azimuthal and elevational orientation of the nozzle means. Locking means 137 is movable into an unlocked position for allowing individual nozzle means to be oriented along separate azimuthal and elevational orientation.

Each handle means has affixed thereto a control means; such as, control button 37. As indicated in connection with FIG. 1, depression of.one of control buttons 37 by an operator controlling the orientation of the handle means and, hence, the nozzle means effects delivery of the respective fire extinguishing agent.

If desired, more than two fire extinguishing agents can be employed. When this is done, and it will probably be a rare occasion, it will required additional concentric mounting and sealing means and additional conduit means connected therewith within the turret.

In operation, as suggested by the foregoing description, the fire truck 11 is driven to as close ,a proximity to the fire as possible. An operator, operating from platform 41, effects the desired elevational and azimuthal orientation of the respective nozzle means. All safety controls; such as, master switches in the cab of the fire truck; will have been activated such that fire extinguishing agents are ready to be delivered to the respective nozzle means in response to depression ofcontrol buttons 37 on the respective handle means controlling the respective nozzle means. The operator depresses control button 37 effecting delivery of an aqueous fire extinguishing agent. He observes where the aqueous agent is delivered onto the fire and accordingly changes elevation or azimuth to obtain delivery where he desires it. If supplemental extinguishing is desired, the operator depresses the other control button 37 on the other handle to effect delivery of the dry chemical fire extinguishing agent and the inert gas. By propitious combination of the fire extinguishing agents, control of the fire around the fire truck is readily effected and the area of control widened until the fire is extinguished or brought under control. While it is ordinarily advantageous to retain unitary'orientation of the respective nozzles by maintaining the locking means engaged, a skilled operator may sometimes effect single orientation of the respective nozzles separately from each other.

Upon bringing the fire under control, fire truck 11 can be removed from the vicinity of the fire and all systems restored to normal. For example, invertible spherical container 29 can be righted and if necessary recharged. Similarly, the aqueous fire extinguishing agent container 33 is recharged and if necessary the rack of nitrogen bottles 31, as well as the other racks, are recharged.

One advantage of the invention is that no exotic and expensive new materials of construction are required. The materials ordinarily employed in manufacturing the respective components are adequate.

Thus, it can be seen that the invention provides all of the objects enumerated hereinbefore by enabling the turret assembly to be rotated through any segment of rotation, including a full 360 or more without admixing of the fire extinguishing agents before delivery from their respective nozzle means and without entangling of the respective conduit means supplying the respective fire extinguishing agents.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a fire fighting turret assembly for delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents on a fire, said turret assembly having a plurality of nozzle means connected with a plurality of conduit means for carrying respective said fire extinguishing agents, the improvement comprising:

a. a single support means including a stationary jacket and a rotatably connected head adapted for effecting any segment of rotation of said turret assembly up to and including full 360 of rotation; and

b. a plurality of mounting and sealing means concentric with said single support means, each being operatively connected to be rotatable with one of said conduit means so as to preserve the identity and characteristics of said respective fire extinguishing agents and prevent intert-v wining of said conduit means when said turret assembly is rotated through a plurality of complete circles in either direction.

2. A fire fighting turret capable of delivering a plurality of fluidized fire extinguishing agents for fighting a fire comprising:

a. a stationary external jacket for conveying a first fire extinguishing agent;

b. a head rotatably and sealingly mounted on said external jacket for conveying said first fire extinguishing agent;

c. first nozzle outlet means fixed to said head for delivering said first fire extinguishing agent to a nozzle means;

d. an internal conduit means rotatably and sealingly mounted within said external jacket and having second nozzle outlet means at one end sealingly and fixedly penetrating through the wall of said head for conveying and delivering a second fire extinguishing agent to a second nozzle means;

e. swivel fluid coupling means rotatably and sealingly connected with the other end of said internal conduit means,

said coupling meansbein adapted for connection with a dellvery conduit, said de lvery conduit being connected with a source for said second fire extinguishing agent; and

f. fluid inlet coupling means sealingly penetrating the wall of said external jacket for connecting the interior thereof with a second delivery conduit, said second delivery conduit being connected with a source for said first fire extinguishing agent.

3. The turret of claim 2 wherein said external jacket serves as a support means about which said head can freely rotate throughout 360.

4. The turret of claim 2 wherein there is provided a brake means for preserving azimuthal orientation of said head, said brake means being connected with said external jacket and operatively engageable with said head.

5. The turret of claim 2 wherein said first and second nozzle outlets each have a first ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting azimuthal orientation independently of said head and a second ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting elevational orientation, and a nozzle means connected therewith for effecting delivery of one of said fire extinguishing agents; said first ell means, said second ell means, and said nozzle means being connected in series.

6. The turret of claim 5 wherein each of said nozzle means has physically connected with it a handle means and wherein there is provided a locking means for locking the plurality of handle means connected with the plurality of nozzle means together to-effect unitary azimuthal and elevational orientation of said nozzle means, said locking means being movable into an unlocked position whereby said respective nozzle means can be oriented along separate azimuthal and elevational orientations.

7. The turret of claim 6 wherein each said handle means has affixed thereto a control means to render delivery of said respective fire extinguishing agents responsive to an operator controlling the orientation of said handle means and, hence, said nozzle means. 

1. In a fire fighting turret assembly for delivering a plurality of fire extinguishing agents on a fire, said turret assembly having a plurality of nozzle means connected with a plurality of conduit means for carrying respective said fire extinguishing agents, the improvement comprising: a. a single support means including a stationary jacket and a rotatably connected head adapted for effecting any segment of rotation of said turret assembly up to and including full 360* of rotation; and b. a plurality of mounting and sealing means concentric with said single support means, each being operatively connected to be rotatable with one of said conduit means so as to preserve the identity and characteristics of said respective fire extinguishing agents and prevent intertwining of said conduit means when said turret assembly is rotated through a plurality of complete circles in either direction.
 2. A fire fighting turret capable of delivering a plurality of fluidized fire extinguishing agents for fighting a fire comprising: a. a stationary external jacket for conveying a first fire extinguishing agent; b. a head rotatably and sealingly mounted on said external jacket for conveying said first fire extinguishing agent; c. first nozzle outlet means fixed to said head for delivering said first fire extinguishing agent to a nozzle means; d. an internal conduit means rotatably and sealingly mounted within said external jacket and having second nozzle outlet means at one end sealingly and fixedly penetrating through the wall of said head for conveying and delivering a second fire extinguishing agent to a second nozzle means; e. swivel fluid coupling means rotatably and sealingly connected with the other end of said internal conduit means, said coupling means being adapted for connection with a delivery conduit, said delivery conduit being connected with a source for said second fire extinguishing agent; and f. fluid inlet coupling means sealingly penetrating the wall of said external jacket for connecting the interior thereof with a second delivery conduit, said second delivery conduit being connected with a source for said first fire extinguishing agent.
 3. The turret of claim 2 wherein said external jacket serves as a support means about which said head can freely rotate throughout 360*.
 4. The turret of claim 2 wherein there is provided a brake means for preserving azimuthal orientation of said head, said brake means being connected with said external jacket and operatively engageable with said head.
 5. The turret of claim 2 wherein said first and second nozzle outlets each have a first ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting azimuthal orientation independently of said head and a second ell means rotatably and sealingly connected therewith for effecting elevational orientation, and a nozzle means connected therewith for effecting delivery of one of said fire extinguishing agents; said first ell means, said second ell means, and said nozzle means being connected in series.
 6. The turret of claim 5 wherein each of said nozzle means has physically connected with it a handle means and wherein there is provided a locking means for locking the plurality of handle means connected with the plurality of nozzle means together to effect unitary azimuthal and elevational orientation of saId nozzle means, said locking means being movable into an unlocked position whereby said respective nozzle means can be oriented along separate azimuthal and elevational orientations.
 7. The turret of claim 6 wherein each said handle means has affixed thereto a control means to render delivery of said respective fire extinguishing agents responsive to an operator controlling the orientation of said handle means and, hence, said nozzle means. 